WUXI, China/NEW YORK -- At its headquarters in the eastern Chinese city of Wuxi, Autolink is locked in a relentless race to be the top producer of components that power artificial intelligence in electric vehicles.

Intense competition among Chinese companies has led to rapid technological advances, but also diminishing profits and gluts of products that are increasingly destined for export markets. (Source photos by Wataru Suzuki and Getty Images)

EV component CEO says he was 'swept along' by no-holds-barred manufacturing model